Sponsor
Senator · D-CT
The bill increases transparency, victim participation, and oversight of clemency at the cost of added administrative work, modest fiscal and compliance burdens, and risks to privacy and speedy relief for petitioners and advocates.
All Americans (taxpayers and the public) gain much greater transparency into clemency decisions, reasons, and who is lobbying for clemency because the Act requires same‑day explanations, rapid public reporting of clemency lobbying, and regular compliance reporting.
Victims (as defined in federal law) are given clearer standing and more timely opportunities to be heard — the bill clarifies who counts as a victim and requires notification and inclusion of written victim statements in Justice Impact Statements delivered to the President and Congress.
Congress and oversight bodies receive better, evidence‑based information about clemency implementation and compliance because the Pardon Attorney must deliver Justice Impact Statements and biennial reports identifying gaps and recommended fixes.
Federal employees, the Pardon Attorney's office, and Executive Office staff face increased administrative burden and workload to prepare rapid explanations, notifications, Justice Impact Statements, and biennial studies, which could divert staff time from casework and slow clemency decisions.
Immediate publication of explanations and very short reporting windows for clemency lobbying could harm privacy or safety and chill petitioning or pro bono advocacy — petitioners, victims, and advocates may avoid participating for fear of rapid public disclosure.
Smaller organizations, nonprofits, individual advocates, and lobbyists face new compliance costs and administrative burdens from rapid registration and reporting requirements, and taxpayers could face modest additional costs to fund required studies and reports.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Requires public explanations for presidential clemency, Pardon Attorney impact statements and victim contact, fast-track lobbying registration/reporting for clemency, and recurring compliance studies.
Requires public explanations when the President grants pardons, commutations, reprieves, or remissions of fines; creates new Pardon Attorney duties to prepare Justice Impact Statements and notify victims and law enforcement; expands federal lobbying registration and fast reporting requirements for anyone lobbying about clemency; and mandates recurring compliance studies and reports to Congress. The bill also includes a severability clause and definitions for key terms.
Official title: Require the President to publish a statement of reasons for pardons, and for other purposes.
Introduced January 25, 2025 by Richard Blumenthal · Last progress January 25, 2025